What Next | Behind the Democrats’ Losing Strategy

In 'Bowling Alone', Robert D. Putnam presents extensive data showing how Americans have become disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures. He argues that this decline in social capital has significant negative impacts on physical and civic health. The book explores various factors contributing to this decline, including changes in work, family structure, suburbanization, and the influence of technology such as television and the internet. Putnam also discusses historical precedents and potential solutions for reviving civic engagement and social connections.

In 'The Unaccountability Machine', Dan Davies explores why large systems, including markets, institutions, and governments, often produce outcomes that no one intends. He draws on the work of Stafford Beer, a pioneer in management cybernetics, to explain how organizations can be seen as artificial intelligences making decisions independent of their members' intentions. Davies critiques the current state of management and economic systems, highlighting the concept of 'accountability sinks' where negative feedback is ignored, and discusses the consequences of these systemic failures, including the 2008 financial crisis. The book is a blend of part-biography and part-political thriller, offering a compelling narrative on the need for better accountability and decision-making processes.

In 'The Hollow Parties', Daniel Schlozman and Sam Rosenfeld provide a comprehensive history of American political parties, tracing their development from the Jacksonian era through the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The book examines how these parties have become hollow shells, locked in a polarized struggle for power and disconnected from their civic roots. It offers insights into how the parties' current state reflects broader democratic discontents and suggests paths for their renewal.